Give us your views on Trafford Council's draft budget proposals


Residents are being asked to give their views on Trafford Council’s draft budget proposals for the next financial year.

The proposals aim to close a funding gap of £37m while also protecting the Council’s essential front-line services.

The Coronavirus has massively impacted the Council’s finances, causing a huge increase in spending which included funding the provision of support to some of the most vulnerable people in the borough, while at the same time having a devastating impact on revenue.

The draft budget forms part of a three year strategy for the period 2021/22 to 2023/24 and is being proposed in the face of unprecedented financial uncertainty. The medium and longer term effects of Coronavirus on the borough’s economy are not yet known.

To balance the books, the Council is proposing to use £15m of its reserves, increasing Council Tax by 3.99%, with 1.99% being the rise in Council Tax and 2% being the Social Care precept, and making savings.

The proposals include flexible working options as well as a voluntary severance scheme alongside other planned savings. Even with all the proposals, a further £4.71m still needs to be found by February 2021 in order to balance the overall budget.

Cllr Tom Ross, Executive Member for Finance and Investment, said:

“This has been the most challenging budget we have ever encountered but we have been guided throughout the process by our vision of building the best future for everyone living and working in Trafford. We have done the right thing by spending money helping out our residents and businesses through the difficult lockdown caused by the coronavirus – and we will continue to do so. Our income from things such as car parking, registrar services, licensing and school catering have all been badly hit.”

To give your views on the budget proposals, please go to the Council website page.

Posted on Monday 23rd November 2020